Earth anchor and apparatus for applying

ABSTRACT

Expansible apparatus for anchoring one end of a connecting member in the earth so that a substantial pull can be exerted on the anchor without removing the same. The apparatus includes a truncated cone having a connecting member secured thereto and a plurality of segmental wedges each having a frusto-conical bore and adapted to be spread generally radially by axial movement of the cone.

[45] Oct. 9, 1973 354,342 12/1886 85/77 261,854 8/1882 Kingsburg et 52/155 EARTH ANCHOR AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING [76] Inventor:

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 49,720

Julius R. Ballew, PO. Box 1716,

Seminole, Tex. 79360 11/1889 Germany 52/162 May 20, 1971 [22 Filed:

Primary Examiner-Frank L. Abbott [21] Appl. No.: 145,383 Assistant Examiner-Carl D. Friedman AttorneyAv Yates Dowel] and A. Yates Dowell, Jr.

pull

g the aving plurality ABSTRACT Expansible apparatus for anchoring one end of a connecting member in the earth so that a substantial can be exerted on the anchor without removin y by axial e fima duh r .m ha D C ce S s m wm am b l ed eC 8 0h P w pgl mmem etnm hue nmdm n a O v m sd c o SaOam 7 ll 7 66 /-/]1 5 8 22 555 8 S T m N m w W m m d n m 8A mun" n... P m u m m CS "nun S h Enmt To -lil S ar. nAn wn e c fl rT O I S JASH MD E480 Ill "9999 NHHHH uw n 5676 0655 2 5578 6 3% 5 M1 1 EARTH. ANCHOR AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to securing means of various kinds and relates particularly to apparatus which is at least partially imbedded within the earth and adapted to secure other structure thereto to prevent substantial movement of the other structure.

2. Description of the Prior Art In many places mobile homes have been set on a foundation to provide housing for one or more persons. However, these mobile homes normally are not permanently attached to the foundation with the result that strong winds have been able to move the mobile home relative to the foundation so that water pipes, electrical conduits, and other utility lines have been ruptured and in some cases have presented a dangerous situation.

Some efforts have been made to anchor the mobile homes in fixed position by digging a bore hole, inserting an anchor rod therein, and then partially filling the bore hole with concrete or other plastic material that will set or harden, after which the remaining portion of the bore hole is filled in with loose dirt. This has not proved satisfactory since the concrete can be pulled through the filled-in dirt when a strong force is applied to the mobile home. Also, the anchor rod normally is made of steel or other ferrous metal and has been subject to rust and deterioration by the elements, as well as achemicalreaction with the material of the concrete.

Some efforts have been made to provide earth anchors which could be inserted within a bore hole and portions expanded to physically bite into and engage the packed earth at the sides of the bore hole. However, these prior art devices have been expensive to produce and maintain, have collapsed under strong pressure, have failed to engage sufficient packed earth to provide a firm anchor, and for other reasons have not been satisfactory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a relatively simple inexpensive earth anchor and apparatus for applying the same so that the anchor can be quickly and easily imbedded within the earth and will engage a substantial portion of the packed earth to provide a firm anchor, and when in use, such anchor is arranged in such a manner that the harder the force trying to pull the anchor from the earth, the greater will be the resistance preventing axial movement of the anchor.

It is an object of the invention to provide an earth anchor and apparatus for applying the same in which such anchor includes a connecting member with a truncated cone at one end and aplurality of arcuate segmental wedge members each of which has a frusto-conical portion engaging the cone so that an outward force is transmitted to the segments when an axial force is applied to the cone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONOF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective illustrating the earth anchor of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a section illustrating the earth anchor as it is applied to a bore hole and the apparatus for applying 7 the same.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With continued reference to the drawing, the earth anchor of the present invention includes a connecting member 10 having an eye or other attaching means 11 at one end. The connecting member 10 preferably is constructed of galvanized steel to provide sufficient tensile strength and prevent or substantially reduce the deleterious effects of rain and weather. The opposite end of the connecting member 10 is imbedded within a truncated cone or base 12 or is attached thereto in any other desired manner.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the connecting member 10 is a galvanized cable in which the individual strands 13 at the end thereof have been raveled and have been imbedded within a cone 12 of concrete, or other moldable material such as metal, or a thermosetting or thermoplastic material. This structure not only forms a permanent connection between the connecting member and the cone, but also functions as a reinforcement for the material of the cone.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the connecting member 10' is a rod which extends through a bore 14 in a precast cone 112 and such rod is provided with a relatively large washer l5 and a nut 16 for engaging the bottom of the cone. With this construction the cone can be cast or molded separately from the connecting member and attached thereto prior to use.

It is contemplated that the rigid connecting member of FIG. 6 could have the washer l5 and nut 16 or other enlargement imbedded within the material of the cone to provide a permanent connection.

A plurality of segmental wedges 17 are provided having arcuate outer surfaces 18 arranged so that when a predetermined number of wedges are placed together, they form a generally cylindrical ring. Each of the wedges includes a substantially flat upper surface 19, a substantially flat lower surface 20, and a segmental, generally frusto-conical inner surface 21 which is complementary to the exterior surface of the truncated cone 12.

In order to move the cone l2 axially of the segmental wedges 17, an elongated sleeve 22 is provided having one end adapted to engage the upper surfaces 19 of the wedges l7 and the opposite end adapted to receive the base 23 of a conventional jack 24. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the jack is of the ratchet type and includes a post 25 on which a head 26 is movably mounted. The head has an outwardly extending tongue 27 adapted to engage the eye 11 of the connecting member 10. An operating handle or lever 28 is provided for operating the head 26 and moving the same along the post 25.

In the operation of the device, a bore hole 30 is dug into the earth 311 and such bore hole is slightly larger than the circumference of the segmental wedges. The truncated cone 12 which has been assembled with the connecting member 10 is placed within the bore hole 30 and thereafter segmental wedges 17 are placed about the cone with the frusto-conical inner surfaces 21 in engagement with the exterior surface of the cone. The sleeve 22 is placed over the connecting member and lowered until one end engages the upper surfaces 19 of the segmental wedges and thereafter the jack 24 is placedon the opposite end of the sleeve 22 with the tongue 27 engaging the eye or attaching means 11. Operation of the jack 24 causes the head 26 to be extended along the post 25 to exert an axial force on the connecting member 10. Since the sleeve 22 is resting on the segmental wedges 17, such wedges are prevented from moving axially and therefore axial movement of the truncated cone 12 will expand the segmental wedges by transmitting a radial force through the frusto-conical inner surfaces of such wedges. Since the wedges are being expanded radially, the outer surfaces 18 will be forced into the packed earth adjacent to the bore hole 30. The distance that the segmental wedges are forced radially into the packed earth depends upon the distance that the connecting member 10 and the cone 12 are moved axially. After the segmental wedges have been expanded a desired distance, the jack 24 and the sleeve 22 are removed and the bore hole is filled with either soil or concrete as desired. Thereafter a guy wire 32 is connected at one end to the eye 11 and the other end is connected in any desired manner (not shown) to the structure to be held.

I claim:

1. The combination of an earth anchor and apparatus for applying the same to a bore hole in the earth, said earth anchor comprising an elongated connecting member having attaching means at the upper end, a truncated cone connected to the lower end of said connecting member for location within the bore hole, a plurality of segmental wedges disposed about said cone within the bore hole, each of said wedges having a frusto-conical inner surface complementarily engaging said cone, each of said wedges having a wide flat upper surface disposed generally normal to the axis of said connecting member, said applying apparatus including a hollow sleeve having an imperforate wall with one end engageable with the flat upper surfaces of said segmental wedges and the other end disposed above the level of the earth, said connecting member extending entirely through said sleeve and terminating outwardly of said other end, a jack having a base engageable with said other end of said sleeve, said jack including a head movably mounted relative to said base and having means engageable with the attaching means at one end of said connecting member, and means for operating said jack, whereby an upward generally axial force applied to said connecting member and said cone by said jack causes said cone to transmit a radial outward force to said segmental wedges and causes said wedges to expand radially outwardly and be embedded in the compacted earth surrounding the bore hole. 

1. The combination of an earth anchor and apparatus for applying the same to a bore hole in the earth, said earth anchor comprising an elongated connecting member having attaching means at the upper end, a truncated cone connected to the lower end of said connecting member for location within the bore hole, a plurality of segmental wedges disposed about said cone within the bore hole, each of said wedges having a frusto-conical inner surface complementarily engaging said cone, each of said wedges having a wide flat upper surface disposed generally normal to the axis of said connecting member, said applying apparatus including a hollow sleeve having an imperforate wall with one end engageable with the flat upper surfaces of said segmental wedges and the other end disposed above the level of the earth, said connecting member extending entirely through said sleeve and terminating outwardly of said other end, a jack having a base engageable with said other end of said sleeve, said jack including a head movably mounted relative to said base and having means engageable with the attaching means at one end of said connecting member, and means for operating said jack, whereby an upward generally axial force applied to said connecting member and said cone by said jack causes said cone to transmit a radial outward force to said segmental wedges and causes said wedges to expand radially outwardly and be embedded in the compacted earth surrounding the bore hole. 